Florida State University Athletics
Jerry Deng: From Across The Globe To Florida State
10/30/2024 2:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE – Sophomore Jerry Deng is the first player to wear uniform No. 7 for the Seminoles since 1948, and he's just the second player to wear the number in the 77-year history of the program.
But that's not what makes him unique.
As he makes his second appearance in a Florida State uniform as the Seminoles play host to West Florida on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. what makes him unique is the path he has forged to become a student-athlete at one of the top schools in the top college basketball conference in the nation.
Known as a skilled scorer and rebounder, Deng brings a unique blend of talent and experience to the Donald L. Tucker Center. His journey has taken him across the world to his current home of Florida State as a player for the Seminoles in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With its roots in South Sudan, a country of over 11 million people in East Africa, Deng and his family have called Rochester, New York, Dallas, Texas., Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Norcross, Georgia home. He played his first collegiate season at Hampton University in Virginia and now calls Tallahassee, Florida, and Florida State University home.
Deng's journey is as diverse as his background.
"Moving around so much has made it easier to focus in one place," said Deng. "I'm able to lock in and focus on what needed to be done."
Deng said Norcross – a suburb of Atlanta – is his favorite home. That's where he spent his high school years and honed his skills in the game of basketball.
Deng graduated from Norcross High School in 2023. He was a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State Honorable Mention selection and an Atlanta Tip Off Club All-Metro (Atlanta) pick as a senior. Deng was an all-region 7A honoree, a Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Tip Off Club All-County selection during his senior season. He led Norcross High school to the state championship in 2023.
"Playing at Norcross really helped me because the level of competition in Georgia 7A basketball really prepared me for college," said Deng. "The relationships I built there I still have to this day, and those relationships have allowed me to mature and become the person I am today."
Deng is part of a large, close-knit family. As one of seven siblings, with three brothers and three sisters, and an uncle to eight nieces and nephews, his family's support has been a powerful influence on his love for basketball.
"My brother and family inspired me to play," said Deng. "My brother played when he was younger and taught me a lot. I just took everything he taught me and ran with it. They're as excited as I am to be here at Florida State. They're definitely proud of me and looking forward to the season."
His successful high school career led him to Hampton University for one season where he averaged 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.5 blocked shots and led the Pirates with a .391 3-point field goal shooting percentage. He made 43 long range shots to rank second on the team and scored 332 points in his 33 games for his double-figure scoring average.
Playing high school basketball in the heart of the ACC, Deng longed for the constant excitement of what the conference had to offer each and every night.
As one of the hottest names in the transfer portal during the spring of 2024, Deng pledged his allegiance to head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff.
In fact, it was Hamilton and his staff that noticed Deng before he began thinking about coming to Florida State.
"Jerry is a player we began to look at early in the transfer portal process because he can help our basketball team," said Hamilton. "His scoring ability is what first attracted us, but as we began to learn more about him, he is very athletic, and his length forced us to take a much closer look at him.
"He has good length as a defender, has a shooters-touch, and can get out on shooters on defense – which are all things we ask our players to do for us on every possession. Jerry is going to fit in very well at Florida State," the Hall of Fame coach said when Deng signed to play at Florida State in April.
Deng made an impressive debut at the Tucker Center against St. Leo in the Seminoles' first exhibition game. He scored six points and pulled down six rebounds as he helped the Seminoles to an 87-64 victory.
"It was a bit nerve-wracking to play in an arena I'd always dreamed of playing in, but once the game got going, I settled in and had fun," said Deng.
Deng credits his teammates for his easy transition during his first season at Florida State.
"The energy in the locker room is always positive," said Deng. "That's a big emphasis for us, staying positive even when things aren't going perfectly."
As Deng and his teammates play their final exhibition before opening their season at home on Monday against Northern Kentucky, their excitement for the beginning of the season is palpable.
"I really feel like we gelled as a team this summer, and that connection is going to show on the court this season."
As Deng takes the floor for his second game at Florida State, he is looking for the upcoming season to be as unique as his journey that led him to Florida State.
But that's not what makes him unique.
As he makes his second appearance in a Florida State uniform as the Seminoles play host to West Florida on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. what makes him unique is the path he has forged to become a student-athlete at one of the top schools in the top college basketball conference in the nation.
Known as a skilled scorer and rebounder, Deng brings a unique blend of talent and experience to the Donald L. Tucker Center. His journey has taken him across the world to his current home of Florida State as a player for the Seminoles in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With its roots in South Sudan, a country of over 11 million people in East Africa, Deng and his family have called Rochester, New York, Dallas, Texas., Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Norcross, Georgia home. He played his first collegiate season at Hampton University in Virginia and now calls Tallahassee, Florida, and Florida State University home.
Deng's journey is as diverse as his background.
"Moving around so much has made it easier to focus in one place," said Deng. "I'm able to lock in and focus on what needed to be done."
Deng said Norcross – a suburb of Atlanta – is his favorite home. That's where he spent his high school years and honed his skills in the game of basketball.
Deng graduated from Norcross High School in 2023. He was a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State Honorable Mention selection and an Atlanta Tip Off Club All-Metro (Atlanta) pick as a senior. Deng was an all-region 7A honoree, a Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Tip Off Club All-County selection during his senior season. He led Norcross High school to the state championship in 2023.
"Playing at Norcross really helped me because the level of competition in Georgia 7A basketball really prepared me for college," said Deng. "The relationships I built there I still have to this day, and those relationships have allowed me to mature and become the person I am today."
Deng is part of a large, close-knit family. As one of seven siblings, with three brothers and three sisters, and an uncle to eight nieces and nephews, his family's support has been a powerful influence on his love for basketball.
"My brother and family inspired me to play," said Deng. "My brother played when he was younger and taught me a lot. I just took everything he taught me and ran with it. They're as excited as I am to be here at Florida State. They're definitely proud of me and looking forward to the season."
His successful high school career led him to Hampton University for one season where he averaged 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.5 blocked shots and led the Pirates with a .391 3-point field goal shooting percentage. He made 43 long range shots to rank second on the team and scored 332 points in his 33 games for his double-figure scoring average.
Playing high school basketball in the heart of the ACC, Deng longed for the constant excitement of what the conference had to offer each and every night.
As one of the hottest names in the transfer portal during the spring of 2024, Deng pledged his allegiance to head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff.
In fact, it was Hamilton and his staff that noticed Deng before he began thinking about coming to Florida State.
"Jerry is a player we began to look at early in the transfer portal process because he can help our basketball team," said Hamilton. "His scoring ability is what first attracted us, but as we began to learn more about him, he is very athletic, and his length forced us to take a much closer look at him.
"He has good length as a defender, has a shooters-touch, and can get out on shooters on defense – which are all things we ask our players to do for us on every possession. Jerry is going to fit in very well at Florida State," the Hall of Fame coach said when Deng signed to play at Florida State in April.
Deng made an impressive debut at the Tucker Center against St. Leo in the Seminoles' first exhibition game. He scored six points and pulled down six rebounds as he helped the Seminoles to an 87-64 victory.
"It was a bit nerve-wracking to play in an arena I'd always dreamed of playing in, but once the game got going, I settled in and had fun," said Deng.
Deng credits his teammates for his easy transition during his first season at Florida State.
"The energy in the locker room is always positive," said Deng. "That's a big emphasis for us, staying positive even when things aren't going perfectly."
As Deng and his teammates play their final exhibition before opening their season at home on Monday against Northern Kentucky, their excitement for the beginning of the season is palpable.
"I really feel like we gelled as a team this summer, and that connection is going to show on the court this season."
As Deng takes the floor for his second game at Florida State, he is looking for the upcoming season to be as unique as his journey that led him to Florida State.
Players Mentioned
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